Ohio Fishing License Cost (2026) — $25 Resident, Lake Erie Included!

OH fishing license cost: $25 res, $50.96 NR. GREAT NEWS: The extra Lake Erie permit was eliminated, so $25 covers the Great Lakes! Senior 66+ $10.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) manages the Ohio fishing license. At just $25 annually, Ohio offers incredible value — and even better, ODNR recently eliminated the extra Lake Erie permit fee!

Ohio ODNR Detailed Fishing License Cost ChartOhio Fishing License Cost (2026) — ODNRGood news: The extra Lake Erie Permit was ELIMINATED! Your $25 license covers it all!ResidentAnnual: $25.001-Day Fishing: $14.00Trout Stamp: $11.00Senior 66+: Only $10.00!Under 16: FREE!Non-ResidentNR Annual: $50.96NR 3-Day: $25.00NR 1-Day: $14.00⚠️ Ohio licenses are valid exactly 365 days from the date of purchase!🎣 Lake Erie "Walleye Capital" • Mosquito Lake crappie • Mad River troutOhio Lake Erie Walleye Fishing Permit Elimination ExplainedHUGE SAVINGS: Lake Erie Permit ELIMINATED!You no longer need an extra $11 permit to fish Lake Erie!As of the 2022-2023 season, your standard $25 Ohio Fishing License coversthe entire "Walleye Capital of the World" — both the main lake and its tributaries.💡 Only the Trout & Salmon Stamp ($11) remains as an extra add-on if you keep those species.

Last verified for the 2026 fishing season. Regulations subject to change.

2026 Ohio Fishing License Cost — Resident

LicensePriceDurationNotes
Annual Fishing$25.00365 DaysIncludes Lake Erie!
1-Day Fishing$14.001 dayCan upgrade to annual for $12
Senior (66+)$10.00365 DaysGreat discount!
3-Year License$72.113 YearsLock in the rate
Trout & Salmon Stamp$11.00365 DaysOnly if keeping trout/salmon
Under 16FREE—No license needed

Ohio Non-Resident Fishing License

LicensePriceDuration
NR Annual$50.96365 Days
NR 3-Day Tourist$25.003 consecutive days
NR 1-Day$14.001 day
NR Trout Stamp$11.00365 Days

The "1-Year Upgrade"

If you buy a 1-Day ticket ($14) and decide you love fishing, Ohio lets you upgrade to an annual license for just $12 (residents) or $37.44 (non-residents). You don't lose the money you spent on the day pass!

Compare Ohio With Neighboring States

StateRes AnnualNR AnnualSenior RateLake Erie / Great Lakes
Michigan$26.00$76.0065+ $11Included in base license
Pennsylvania$22.97$52.9765+ $11.97Lake Erie permit +$9.97
Indiana$23.00$60.0065+ $3Lake Michigan salmon stamp +$11
New York$25.00$50.0070+ $5Included in base license

Ohio's $25 resident license is directly comparable to Michigan ($26) and New York ($25). The absolute best part of Ohio's pricing is that the state eliminated the extra Lake Erie fee — whereas Pennsylvania still charges an extra $9.97 to fish their portion of the lake!

FAQ

Do I need a Lake Erie permit in 2026?

No! ODNR eliminated the Lake Erie Permit years ago. Your standard $25 Ohio fishing license allows you to fish anywhere in the Ohio waters of Lake Erie and its tributaries. It's a huge saving! Explore the best walleye waters in our guide to Ohio's top fishing spots.

Review all OH license costs to ensure you have the right coverage, then buy your OH fishing license securely online →